Screen or the like



Aug. 6, 19401.. D. BENNETT 2,210,652 SCREEN 0R THE LIKEy Filed Sept. 1, 1957 l NTO R y A 4 3f D von nneH' V Y Q-@ Hl OR Y lil Patented Aug. 6, 1940 'v SCREEN 0R 'EEE LIKE Devon Dennett, Long -island City, N. Y. Application september i, memset-isi No. 1er-,ess

1 malin.

This invention relates to panel-joining means.

The invention nds particular applicationl as a device for joining the panels of floor screens, structural partitions and the like, in a manner providing for the joining thereof without the use of tools; anoladditionally provides for the separation of panels when necessary and for-the vertical adjustment, in any degree, of one panel with respect to another.

In this invention, the panel-joining means may include a strap or relatively narrow band oi leather, fabric, spring metal, or the like, said strap having thickened longitudinal marginal surfaces.

The thickened portions of the strap are arranged to cooperate with a suitable strap-edge receiving groove. or equivalent structure along the facing edges of adjacent panel sections.

The stated strap-receiving elements may comprise a suitable continuous wedge-shaped slot in the edge portions of the panels, said wedge slot expanding in width from the edge of the panel inwardly. Alternatively, the strap-receiving means may comprise a suitable spring-metal molding, suitably attached to the edges of the screen, and arranged to receive and hold the stated thickened edge-portions of the paneljoining strap.

The invention finds particular use as a means of joining the panels comprising theA customary floor screen. In such applications the paneljoining means may be, and preferably are, straps of leather or similar decorative fabric, the lengthwise marginal portions of which have been hemmed over to provide increased thickness. The respective panels are joined by inserting each of the thickened margins of one end of the strap into the respective .receiving grooves or equivalent,

and drawing the strap along the length of the panels, the slots providing a continuous keyway for the thickened edge-portions of the hinge forming strap. It will be evident that as the straps are not flxedly secured to the screen panels, the screen panels are vertically adjustable one with the other. Accordingly, therefore, irregularities in the floor or other surface on which the screen Fig. i is a perspective of a multiple-panel iioor screen embodying my invention;

Fig. 2 is a plan section taken through 2 2 of. Fig. i, illustrating the grooved side-edges of the panels; v

Fig. 3 is an elevation of a portion of the screen of Fig. i, illustrating the mutual adjustment feature oi the screen panels;

Fig. d is a plan section of a second form of hinge-retaining means;

Fig. 5 is a plan view oi' a series of partition sections, utilizing this invention as joining means:

Fig. 6 is a plan-sectional view of a portion ot a laminated screen panel, illustrating a method of forming the hinge-retaining groove.

In the accompanying drawing, i Ela, Ilib and Hic, respectively designate panels of a iloor screen. The panels are arranged to bejoined, in a manner providing flexibility, by a hinge il, see Fig. 2, which may be formed of a strap of leather, fabric or other flexible material, hemmed or turned inwardly at its marginal surfaces i2, to provide thickened edge portions. Advantageously, the

stated marginal edges may be turned over a suitl able corded filler, as i3, to increase the edge thickness.

To cooperate with the hinge li to effect joinder of the panels, the wood or other 'sides of the stated panels may be provided with a continuous wedgeshaped keyway or groove I4, which, as shown in Fig. 2, is inwardly divergent, increasing continuously in width from a minimum at the outer surface of the panel edge to a maximum within the panel. There is thus provided a dovetail or keyway arranged to loosely and slldably confine the hinge Il by the thickened edge-portions thereof, while preventing, by reason of the narrow mouth of the keyway, the transverse withdrawal or pulling out of the stated edge-portions. It is to be noted, however, that the slots i4 are of sufficient dimension to permit the hinge Il, after its respective edge-portions I2 are edge-wise inserted into the slots I4 at anlupper or lower edge of the to-be-joined panels, to be readily drawn lengthwise along the panels to complete the Joinder thereof.

The panels are thus joined in a manner which,

although accomplished without tools or without attachment of the hinge to the panels by adhesives, screws or other means, firmly secures the panels against accidental separation. Additionally, as indicated in exaggerated manner in Fig. 3, contiguous panels are mutually adjustable. The

floor surfaces.

vso

ymolding I B.

Athe hinge I I.

It is to be noted from Fig. 2rthat the hingereceiving keyways I4 may be milled into the edges of the panels. Buch treatment is obviously practicable for panels formed of wood or equivalent materials. However, decorative screens or partitions are often constructed with metal panels, or panels formed with metal lframes, in which diiiiculties attend the milling of suitable slots.

The embodiment illustrated in Fig. 4 contemplates such structure. In this embodiment, there is provided a fabricated metal molding I6, drawn cr otherwise/shaped to have a base I'I 'engageable snugly with Vthe edge wall of the associated panel Illa, and formed to have inwardly curving springable sides I8 respectively terminating in inwardly turned, mutually divergent, iiange-portions I9 spring-pressed together to abut at a point adjacent the outer edge of the It is contemplated that the stated moldings I6 may be removably secured to the screen panel, a's by screws 2i or equivalent devices, which may be installed by springing apart the sides IGI to permit insertion of a screw-driver or other required tool. As is clearly shown in Fig. 4, the molding I6 is the equivalent of the slots I4, see Fig. 2, in receiving and retaining the edges I2 of ings I6, however, lies in the fact that the stated moldings may themselves be of pleasing appearance, and additionally that the spring qualities of the sides I8 thereof may urge the flanges I9 into abutment when not in use as part of a paneljoining device. Thus, an inherent advantage of this invention, namely that a screen or similar structure may be so arranged that panels may be added or subtracted therefrom at any time, is augmented by the fact that on the removal of a panel and the associated hinge connection I I, the metal molding sides I 8 snap together, substantially closing the opening, andv making only a narrow, shallow groove visible. Conceivably, the molding I6 may be formed with suilicient depth to comprise a complete side portion of a panel.

The hinge II may bev furnished in a continuous roll or piece sufficient to meet the requirements of the various panels, and cut to iit when assembling the panels on the job.

Fig. 6 illustrates a method of joining partitionforming panels, said panels designated 20a, 20h, 20c. In such a structure it is contemplated that the panel-joining members designated IIa, IIb, be either non-flexing, or that the span between its respective thickened end portions be reduced to a point prohibiting appreciable swing or similar movement of the respective panels. Accordingly, therefore, the corner member IIa, Fig. 6, is preferably pre-shaped, in accord with its function of providing for an angular joint between associated panels.

An advantage of the metal mold- In Fig. 6 there is illustrated a modification of the panel Illb, see Fig. 1, inl which the hinge receiving portion of the panel is formed of laminations 30, SI, each of `which has been formed with a groove equivalent to one half of the ultimate keyway I4. The respective laminations, when suitably joined, thus form the screen panel, and the required keyway.

It is to be noted that this invention provides a method of Joining such partition forming panels in a manner which readily permits the formation of a curved wall. Also, the panels themselves may be longitudinally curved, as the iiexible or ribbon-like character of the hinge makes it conformable to any curvature or shaping of the panels. Novel decorative eifects, not ordinarily attainable, may thus be achieved.

Referring again to Figure 6, a portion of the lamination 3l at one groove-end portion thereof, may be in the form of a batten 3Ia, formed with one-half of the keyway structure, and removably secured (as by screws not shown) to the main portion of the panel. By so making such portion of the extreme edge portion of the panel removable, to expose the interior of the keyway I4, an

edge'portion I2 of the hinge II may be placed in operative position without sliding it into the groove in the manner generally contemplated and described herein, thereby making it possible to use my invention under circumstances which otherwise may prevent the insertion of the hinge into the keyway I4.

Whereas I have described my invention by reference to speciiic forms thereof, it will be understood that many changes and modications may be made without departing from the spirit.

opening of said keyway means to a maximum thickness less than the maximum wall to wall spacing of said keyway means, whereby withdrawal of said iiexible hinge means outwardly of said keyway means is opposed by a gradually increasing compression exerted by the said angularly disposed keyway walls upon said thickened edge portions of said iiexible hinge means.

DEVON DENNETT. 

